Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this middle-aged man as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. CDs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no downloads. And just as CD technology (and the album format itself) becomes obsolete. I'm no music critic, just a music junkie with too much time on my hands.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Herbie Hancock - The Best of Herbie Hancock: The Blue Note Years (1988)

I didn't know about Herbie Hancock until his 1983 hit, Rockit. Then, one day in college, I heard Maiden Voyage and couldn't believe it was the same guy. I eventually picked up some of his earlier recordings on Blue Note compilations, but it wasn't until I purchased this CD around the year 2000 that I had heard all these great pieces. Hancock is a wonderful pianist and composer, but he's also smart enough to surround himself with quality musicians like Freddie Hubbard, Thad Jones, Dexter Gordon, and Ron Carter. These pieces were recorded during the years 1962-1968. In addition to his own solo work, Hancock was playing with Miles Davis during those years. This is a fantastic sampler of Hancock's early work.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: In addition to standards like Watermelon Man, Maiden Voyage, and Dolphin Dance, I also like Driftin' and Cantaloupe Island.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: This CD kept me company on trips to and from El Maton, TX.

Disclaimer: Opinions about recordings mentioned on this blog are in no way absolute and subject to change at any time due to factors such as aging, mood, diet, wind direction, shirt color, moon phase, alcohol intake, Daylight Savings Time, etc.

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